Dry-kiln.



N. GREENER.

DRY KlLN.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25. 19M.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

N. GREENER.

DRY KILN.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 25, 1914.

Patented J an. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLM zoGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

NICHOLAS GREENER, OF. BUIDE, MISSISSIPPI.

DRY-KILN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Application filed April 25, 1914. Serial No. 834,460.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NIcHoLAs GREENER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bude, in the county of Franklin and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry-Kilns, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a dry kiln to be used for kiln, drying lumber, so constructed that the moisture absorbed into-the air as it is evaporated out of the lumber, is removed at a natural point of exit and a constant supply of fresh air is permitted to flow through the kiln to replace the saturatedair which is withdrawn therefrom.

and further the removal of the saturated air must be at such a point that it will not create too rapid circulation of the air in the kiln which would cause the lumber to check, warp, twist and cup, loosening the knots and drawing out the pith which is one of the chief objections to kiln drying of lumber. As the saturated air is withdrawn from the chamber of the kiln, the proper amount of air must be supplied thereto to replace the saturated air, and if this air be introduced from the atmosphere at the atmospheric temperature which is lower than the temperature within the chamber of the kiln, the temperature of this chamber will be greatly reduced, the cold air coming into contact with the saturated air will cause condensation of the moisture carried thereby and this moisture will be precipitated on the bottom of the chamber of the kiln rather than being carried off with the air which is withdrawn from the kiln and the constant changes in the temperature Wlll cause the lumber to check or crack at the end,and it is a further object of my in vention to utilize the heat in the drying chamber to raise the temperature of the atmospheric air supplied thereto prior to its discharge into said chamber.

lVith other objects in view, which will be referred to, my invention consists in the peculiar combination and novel arrangement of parts, such as will be hereinafter more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed, out in the appended claims.

In the drawing :Figure 1 isaview in perspective of the exterior of a drying kiln constructed to have my invention adapted thereto. Fig. 2 is a broken perspective view to show the lower part of the kiln. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a slightly modified form which the invention might take. Fig. 4: is a transverse vertical sectional view through the structure disclosed in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5.5 of Fig. 2.

The structure of my invention may be incorporated. in a kiln at the time, it is built, or it may be adapted to a kiln already constructed,in the disclosure in Fig. l the kiln comprises a base or foundation 1 upon which the drying chamber 2 1s constructed to be of the proper height and lateral dimension. In the present illustration this heating chamber or drying chamber is divided into three compartments and each compartment has the doors 3 at one end thereof to permit the placing'of the lumber in the chambers.

The track floor 4: is provided within the kiln and is extended from, the end thereof beyond the doors, and this track floor has the track 5 mounted thereon upon which the cars or other carriers for the lumber are moved.

The showing in Fig. 2 is of the base or foundation of the kiln below the track floor, and my invention is, in the main, comprised within this foundation. The walls of this foundation are built up in the usual way with the exception that at points preferably adjacent the outer end or door end the flues 6, 7, and 8 are built up to open on their upper ends into cupolas 9 constructed upon the roof 10 of the kiln.

A cross tube 11 is built transversely of the kiln and is connected at its end with the flues 6 and 7. At its approximate center this cross tube 11 is provided with an opening 12 which establishes communication from the interior of the kiln. through the tube 11 with the flues 6 and 7, and it is preferable that this tube 11 be constructed to be within the front wall 13 of the kiln foundation 1.

An air-supply tube 14 is connected with V foundation 1 or in the drying chamber 2 of the kiln, or heat may be supplied from an external source. The lumber on cars or other suitable carriers is moved over the track 4 to a position within the drying chamber of the kiln and the doors 3 are closed,

'heat is then supplied to the drying chamber and the moisture is driven from the pores of the lumber and is taken up by the air within this drying chamber. As heat is being constantly supplied to the kiln, this saturated air which is of a greater specific gravity than the air in the top of the drying chamber will fall to the bottom of the kiln and naturally the most thoroughly saturated air will be next to the floor.

A draft is created up through the tlues 6 and 7 which open into the cupolas 9 and this causes the saturated air within the kiln to be drawn through the opening 12 and carriedup through the fiues where it is exhausted into the atmosphere. As the saturated air is being constantly exhausted from the kiln, fresh air must he supplied at all times to take the place of the air which is exhausted through the dues and this is accomplished through the tube 14 which is open to the atmosphere at 15 and opens into the kiln at 18. The air taken in through the opening 15 is at atmospheric temperature and as it passes along the length of the tube 14 it is warmed by the heat transmitted to this tube by the contact of the air in the kiln with the sides thereof and when it passes into the kiln through the opening 18 is at a temperature considerably above the atmospheric temperature and approximately the same as the temperature of the air in the lower part of the kiln or within the conn'nes of the foundation. This fresh atmospheric air is heated and rises to the top of the drying chamber where it acts to displace the moisture-laden air which in turn is caused to circulate in a downward path to the bottom of the kiln and is withdrawn through the opening 12. In some connections it may be found that the draft through the fines 6 and 7 will not be sufficient to exhaust the air from the lower part of the kiln through the opening 12, and in such connection a steam ejector will be positioned in each of the fiues to project a jet of the steam through the fines to cause a forced draft and these ejectors will be connected by pipes 20 with a suitable source of steam supply and con trolled by the valves 21.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated an adaptation of my invention to a kiln structure already built, and in this disclosure the tube 11 is placed within the confines of the foundation and preferably against the front wall 13, and at its end has branches 22 which extend up and connect with the flues 23 and 2d of the kiln structure. This tube 11 has an opening 12 identical with the opening 12 of the tube 11 to establish communication with the interior of the kiln and the other parts of the structure are identical with the disclosure of the preferred form.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a dry kiln constructed to be used in seasoning or removing the moisture from lumber, which is so constructed that the moisture-saturated air is being constantly withdrawn during the seasoning operation and fresh air approximating the temperature of the air withdrawn is constantly supplied to augment the supply of air in the drying chamber, and further, that by arranging the parts as I have the air is caused to circulate through the drying chamber and around the lumber being heated therein, in a free and natural course.

While I have herein shown and described one specific form of my invention, it will be understood that slight changes might be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. A dry kiln having an air outlet near the floor, an air inlet placed at a point above the floor, and an air pipe connected around said air inlet and extended to conduct the air to the interior of the kiln at a point away from the wall through which the inlet is provided.

2. A dry kiln having an air outlet near the floor, an air inlet through one of the walls of said kiln at a point above the floor, and an air pipe connected around said inlet to extend in a gradual incline to a point away from said outlet opening and to substantially the same level therewith.

3. A dry kiln having an air outlet near the floor thereof, a flue to cause suction from said outlet, an air inlet through one of the walls of said kiln at a point above the floor, and an air pipe connected around said air inlet to extend in a gradual slope to discharge the air into the kiln at a point away from the outlet.

4. A dry kiln having an air outlet near the floor thereof, an'air inlet placed at a point above the floor, an air pipe connected around said air inlet and extended to discharge the air into the kiln at a point away,

from said outlet, and a fluid blast connected to induce suction through said outlet.

5. A dry kiln having an air outlet near one of the Walls thereof located in proximity to the floor an air inlet formed through said wall at a point above the floor, an air pipe connected around said air inlet to extend in a gradual incline toward the opposite Wall,

of the kiln and having the discharge end thereof at substantially the level of the outlet opening, and means to induce a suction through said outlet to exhaust the contents of the kiln.

6. A dry kiln having an air inlet placed above the floor through one of its Walls, an air pipe connected around said inlet to extend in proximity to the opposite Wall of the kiln, said pipe sloped from its outer to its inner end and at its inner end provided With branches Which discharge the air at several points Within the kiln.

7. A dry ltiln to be used for kiln drying lumber having an air outlet at a point loW down in the kiln to remove the saturated air from that part of the kiln to which it naturally falls, an air inlet opening provided through one of the Walls of the kiln at a point above said outlet, and an air pipe connected around said inlet opening to discharge the air taken therethrough at a point away from said outlet.

8. A dry kiln to be used for kiln drying lumber having an air outlet placed low down in the kiln to remove the saturated air at a point to which it naturally falls, flues connected with said outlet, an air inlet opening provided through one of the Walls of the kiln at a point above the location of said outlet, an air pipe connected around said inlet opening and extended to discharge air into said kiln at a point away from said outlet.

9. A dry kiln to be used for kiln drying lumber having an air outlet placed lOW down in the kiln to remove the saturated air at a point to which it naturally falls, an air inlet provided through one of the Walls of the kiln at a point above said outlet, an air pipe connected around said inlet opening to extend into proximity with the opposite Wall of the kiln and sloped gradually in a doWn ward direction to a point of discharge which is on substantially the same level With the outlet opening, a flue connected With said outletopening, and a steam jet to introduce steam into said fiue to induce a better circulation of air in the kiln.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

NICHOLAS GREENER. Witnesses L. H. WOODLEY, l/V. L. F INNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

